Before the next morning, the moment the Emeralkan students and elites, the headmaster stepped onto the highest floor where he met the first elite they call the Elder.
The room was weirdly curved, largely in contrast with the whole infrastructure of the academies. This is like the attic of a cuboidal tower at the center of the other buildings of the academy. Others believed that this place is the headmaster's place but that is not quite right.
Right now, someone who had seniority and position higher than the headmaster was seating on a metallic chair that has wheels on its side, something that seemed out of place in this wood and rock structures around. The Elder looked far at the wide window that let him see a hundred and eighty degrees of view of the Hramm City.
It was not just literally but even figuratively, this man is the one who oversees the city.
"So what did you see?"
The Elder asked. His name is Hauduin Genzen, brother of Hilbert's grandfather. Since Elder Hauduin went straight for the question as if he had expected his grandnephew's return, Hilbert skipped the formalities and answered.
"We looked at the vicinity where the 'thing' landed eight years ago. We waited and waited but... we saw nothing..."
The Elder raised his finger and was about to say something when he stopped and slowly turned around.
"What do you mean that you saw nothing?"
Headmaster Hilbert's face was cast down. Even though it was not his fault, he couldn't help but feel ashamed for the failure.
Meanwhile, even though the elder is literally an old man reaching more than a hundred fifty of age, he seemed to be vigorous, if his wrinkly face was ignored.
"Are you fooling me or are you starting to take me as a joke?"
The Elder angrily asked. They say that with age, one becomes more patient but it seemed that the opposite happened to Hauduin.
Headmaster Hilbert didn't fear the Elder, only respect, so when wronged, he would not just stand still and be berated.
"Elder, I wouldn't play any tricks on you and even if I want to, I wouldn't dare. However, this time, we didn't really see anything for a whole week."
"Hm..." the Elder moved the wheels on his chair and conveniently turned to the headmaster, "If you're saying the truth then that's my mistake." he didn't apologize but he pointed his own mistake, this is enough for the Headmaster, "But this is because I was sure of it. Why would I send the entirety of the Emeralkan, leaving only the boring caretakers? If only this old thing of mine still works, I could have more enjoyable pastimes!"
"Cough, Elder, please..." the Headmaster was once again how the Elder have fallen. Maybe it is due to stress and frustration but the Elder wants his 'true vigor' back down there which he lost fifty years ago or something.
'This is why we send only male caretakers since he would be frustrated he could only harass the female ones and not take them to bed...'
The Headmaster sighed. This is one of the few reasons why only he and a few select personal caretakers are able to meet the Elder, it would ruin his image. It's best to keep him 'mysterious' until the end.
"But how...?" the Elder muttered, "This is the clearest epiphany I've had for years. I'm almost so sure of it that I sent the students into some stupid event. The only thing we gained is more meat stock which we already have enough of! There will be a lot of leftovers and it will just rot in the warehouses." he loudly sighed.
The Headmaster could not console the Elder since they virtually gained nothing from that 'event' They could not keep trade with other cities up now since the storm is coming. Transportation would be impossible unless Imagis themselves would become porters which is also impossible.
Image is important no matter what the ignorant say. If they made the Imagis for mere transportations then it would reduce their image to mercenaries. Imagis are idols here, worshipped, and that's why the dream of becoming an Imagi is common. If that were to die down, will there be any new Imagis in the next academic year?
Only if it's an emergency then they would gladly use the Imagis and turn them into heroes...
"How?" the Elder massaged his temples, "This epiphany of mine is so clear I could almost see the entity myself! In my entire life, this is the first time such a clear epiphany did not happen!"
Upon saying that, the Elder gasped as he realized something. This shouldn't be just mere chances.
"No... how could this be... the entity should still be juvenile now. Could it be that it interfered with my epiphany?"
He trembled.
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow and this time, he couldn't keep up with the Elder's mumbling. He wanted to ask but waited for the Elder to calm down or else, he would become a victim of another berating.
"Hilbert..."
The Elder was about to turn to his grandnephew but then shook his head.
"Hrn! Why am I the only one useful here!?"
"???" the Headmaster felt like he was just insulted.
However, after a while, the Elder gave up. It's better than not trying.
"Hilbert, times are changing. The younger generation is always surpassing the older generation. You may know it more than I am since you're always out of the city while I'm stuck here waiting for my old thing to work. So, hmm, is it possible for a child younger than ten to become a Fate Imagi like myself?"
The Headmaster who had barely kept his composure all this time tilted his head, almost cracking his head. This ridiculous reaction is because of the ridiculous question from the Elder.
Is it possible for a child younger than ten to become a Fate Imagi?
Heavens!
Even if the Elder removed the word 'fate' there, Headmaster Hilbert would still be a little doubtful to say yes but a Fate Imagi?
If that's true, then almost all of the people he knows are dumb and stupid. For a ten-year-old kid to become a Fate Imagi while they call themselves 'Elites'? Hah! They are definitely stupid!
But seeing the seriousness on the Elder's face, Headmaster Hilbert couldn't help but hold his breath.
So, this is not a joke?
"I don't understand, Elder."
The Elder nodded, understanding the Headmaster's confusion so he finally revealed.
"The truth is when I said the entity was in its infancy eight years ago, that was not metaphorical. It... he's literally a newborn child back then... now, eight years have passed, he should exactly be eight years old."
The Headmaster didn't say anything but the Elder knew well what his questions were.
"Yes, I didn't clear your misunderstanding because I intentionally let it be vague. You think I'm a fool because I'm old? If I said something specific like a male newborn, you would do your all searching for him. Hell, even though I said don't do anything, you send the youngest there!"
The Headmaster began sweating bullets.
"Did you just underestimate a Fate Imagi? Tsk tsk tsk, that's why I still haven't given you the full position of the city's overseer. Now that you know of it, still don't do anything. The child will bring destruction to Reland but if we poke the bee nest, the date for destruction may just adjust itself, destroying us first, you get it? An eight-year-old Imagi, you get what I'm saying? I'm repeating this in hope that it will get to your thick head."